Heavy Goods Vehicles

HC Deb 02 December 1988 vol 142 c406W

Mr. Cran

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what plans he has to recommend higher fastening torques for wheels on heavy goods vehicles;

(2) what is the estimate of the number of road accidents over the past five years attributable to wheel loss on heavy goods vehicles because of inadequate fastening;

(3) what plans he has to require that coned nuts used in the fitting of lorry wheels be replaced by flat nuts.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

Since the beginning of 1983, there have been 130 wheel detachments reported to the vehicle inspectorate. They resulted in 10 fatalities and 24 serious injuries.

Wheel security on commercial vehicles has been the subject of recent research by the Motor Industry Research Association, sponsored by the Institute of Road Transport Engineers and the Department of Trade and Industry.

The Department and the British Standards Institution expect to receive the full research reports shortly. These will be carefully considered to see if any changes are needed in the current British Standard and regulations.